Cool town honor fuels increased interest

Celebration set for March 29

Mar. 14, 2014

Written by

Staff Writer

BERLIN — Merchants in Berlin area already seeing an increased interest in the town just two weeks after it was named “America’s Coolest Small Town” by Budget Travel.

Debbie Frene, owner of Victorian Charm on Main Street, said she had customers last weekend who came to town from Delaware after hearing that Berlin had beat out 14 other towns for the Budget Travel honor. She expects the distinction to bring in visitors, particularly those that vacation in Ocean City, all year.

“I think it’ll be the push they need to come into town,” she said.

Michael Day, the town’s economic and community development director, says he’s been overwhelmed by the aftermath of the Feb. 26 announcement that Berlin was “America’s Coolest Small Town” for 2014. The town topped a list of 15 after more than a month of online voting at Budget Travel’s website.

“It’s over the top as far as the publicity we’re getting,” he said, “and it’s free!”

He said town officials and local merchants would spend the rest of the year making the most of the honor, adding the monikers to advertising, putting up banners and developing decals. He believes the honor will attract new visitors to Berlin as well as those who may have been once but haven’t been back in years.

Berlin Mayor Gee Williams said he’d learned from officials in Lititz, Pa. — Budget Travel’s coolest small town in 2013 — that shops there had experienced a measurable increase in business after they won the award.

“They told us to be prepared for a 20 to 40 percent increase,” he said.

Like Day, Williams said the town would make sure the “America’s Coolest Small Town” label was used to complement its advertising throughout the year. He said town staff and merchants would also work to spruce up the town a bit and make sure it was at its best to welcome tourists.

“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity,” he said. “Other communities have told us this has been a game changer.”

To thank the residents and supporters that kept up the online voting for more than a month during the online contest, Williams said the town would host a celebration Saturday, March 29, from 1-6 p.m. The town will shut down Main Street for a youth parade followed by live entertainment. Food vendors will be present and beer will be sold by the Berlin Chamber of Commerce. In addition, the Berlin Fire Company will host a cornhole tournament beginning at 11 a.m.

Resident Steve Frene will even be performing “Cool Berlin,” the song he wrote to help promote Berlin during the voting. In the end, Berlin received more than 28 percent of the 138,000 votes cast during the contest.

Williams encourages all of Berlin’s supporters to come and enjoy themselves on March 29.

“This gives everyone an excuse to come down and be part of the celebration,” Williams said. “So many of them are the reasons we won this distinction.”